Senate approves Life Imprisonment for Rape, 10 years Each for Incest, Child Pornography and others

The Senate has passed the sexual offences bill which now attracts life
imprisonment for anybody found guilty of rape, child sex tourism or
deliberate passage of HIV/AIDS to innocent citizens, and other sexual
offences.

This was contained in the Sexual Offences Bill sponsored by Senator
Chris Anyanwu, which was passed into law yesterday by the Senate.

The bill prescribes life imprisonment for gang rape, 10 years for
incest, another 10 years imprisonment for child pornography or more and a
fine of N2 million as well as 14 years jail term for sexual offences.

According to Vanguard,Sponsor of the bill and Chairman, Senate
Committee on Defence, Navy, Senator Anyanwu who represents Imo East,
expressed happiness on the passage of the bill, which had been pending
in the Senate since 2013.

“The new law also provides for effective witness protection programme to
protect victims and witnesses in trial for sexual offences.
“It also provides for compulsory documentation, supervision of sexual
offenders and medical treatment for victims, which is in line with the
global trend and finally, and most importantly, it provides for adequate
and stringent punish-ments to perpetrators.”

The new sexual offences law also criminalises people who deliberately
lace drinks with drugs to sexually abuse victims, prostitution of
persons with mental disabilities, among others.